Knockdown crate



C. W. YOUNG.

KNOCKDOWN CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 15.1920.

1,428,070, PatentedSept. 5, 1922.

ATTokA/sy' Patented Sept. 5, 1922.

UNITED STATES CHARLES W. YOUNG, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK.

KNOCKDOWN CRATE.

Application filed April 15, 1920. Serial No. 374,122.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES W. YOUNG, of Syracuse, .in the county ofOnondaga, in the State of New York. have invented new and usefulImprovements in Knockdown Crates, of which the following, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, is a full. clear, and exactdescription.

This invention relates to certain improvements in sheet metal crates ofthe skeleton knock down type involving the use of substantiallyrectangular bottom and top plate sections and corner posts having theiropposite ends provided with bendable tongues passing from the insidethrough corresponding slots in the plates near the corners there of, andclinched or overturned against the outer faces'of said plates to firmlylock the posts and plates to each other in forming the crate.

The main object is to provide a light, strong and durable sheet metalgrate of this character capable of receiving and retaining boxes ofbaked stuff and other light materials for transportation to the place ofdestination, also permitting the plates to be easily and quicklydetached from the corner posts by simply reversing the bending of thetongues, whereupon the plates and posts may be packed in compact spaceand returned to the sender at a minimum cost of transportation.

Other objects and uses relating to specific parts of the crate andmanner of assembling those parts will be brought out in the followingdescription.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved crate ready for use.

Figure -2 is a perspective view of the same crate with the partsdetached ready for assembling.

Figure 3- is a longitudinal sectional view of a portion of one corner ofthe upper plate and the upper end of the adjacent corner post showingthe manner of fastening those parts together.

Figure --lis a perspective view of the lower end of one of the postsbefore bending the tongues, the dotted lines indicating the positionofthe tongue after being passed through the slots in the lower plate andbent against the outer surface thereof.

As illustrated, the crate comprises lower and upper substantiallyrectangular sheet metal plates -1 and -2, a series of, in

this instance, four upright sheet metal posts :3 of. rectangularcross-section, each having its opposite ends provided with a pair ofbendable tongues 4- adapted to be passed from the inner side throughcorresponding slots 5 in the adjacent corners of the plates 1 and 2 andto be bent over and against the outer faces of said plates.

These plates are of substantially the same form and size and are,therefore, interchangeable, each being provided with a marginal flangeextending along its side and end edges, thus producing what may betermed a pair of trays, the upper one of which is inverted so that theflanges of both plates face each other.

The adjacent ends of the flanges at the corners constitute abutments forengagement by the adjacent ends of the corner posts which arerectangular in cross-section and form what may be termed angle bars ofrectangular cross-section having their open sides facing inwardly towardthe center of the crate.

These bars or posts when assembled, fit

snugly in the corners of their respective plates --land -2- so thattheir side flanges bear, respecth'ely, against the sides and ends of theplates at the corners thereof.

The opposite ends of both flanges of the posts are provided with thebendable tongues -4 which are, therefore, disposed in planes at rightangles to each other in spaced relation, each pair of. slots forreceiving said tongues being similarly disposed at right angles to eachother and in spaced relation so that when the tongues are insertedthrough the slots, they are bent over and upon the outer faces of thecorresponding side and end flanges to firmly lock the plates to the endsof the posts, thereby producing a strong and rigid crate having aninterior chamber substantially equal to the area of the plates andlength of the posts and in which boxes of definite size may be stackedin tiers within the marginal flanges of both plates, said flangesserving to retain the boxes against lateral displacement through theopen sides thereof, while at the same time the openings permitinspection of the boxes and any advertising or identifying matterthereon.

The spacing and reduced width of the tongues -4lof each air formsintervening seats -4- at t e junctions of the tongues with the mainbodies against which the adjacent portions of the inner faces of theplates rest when the parts are adjusted for use If two or more verticaltiers are to be enclosed in the crate, one or more intermediate posts -6consisting of flat sheet metal bars may be similarly fastened orclinched to the plates 1 and 2. intermediate the corner posts as shownin Figs. 1 and 2.

In preparing the crate for the reception of boxes for transportation,the lower ends of the posts are first secured to the bottom plate 1 inthe manner described and the boxes are then stacked within the crate tothe height of the posts whereupon the top plate is placed over and uponthe upper ends of the posts and the corresponding tongues clinchedthrough their respective slots, it being understood that the dimensionsof the crate are made to correspond approximately to those of theassembled boxes therein so that the latter may be firmly held againstundue relative movement or displacement.

In order to remove the boxes it is necessary to straighten the tongueson the upper ends of the posts by rebending the same vertically,whereupon the top plate may be readily removed by upward displacement,thus permitting the removal of the boxes by similar upward displacement.

The plates 1 and -2- are preferably solid or imperforate aside from theslots -5- and serve to protect the contents of the crate against injuryfrom below or above, While the posts serve to hold the plates a fixeddistance apart and to also protect the contents of the crate againstcontact with external objects.

It is evident from the foregoing description that this crate can be madeat a sufliciently low cost to enable it to be thrown away by thereceiver of its contents without material loss to the sender, or theparts may be packed in compact space and returned for use if desired.

What I claim is:

1. A knock-down crate comprising a pair of marginally flanged sheetmetal plates having their flanges facing each other, said plates havingelongated relatively narrow slots parallel with and in close proximiliyto the inner faces of the flanges, and she t metal posts having bothends provided with bendable tongues reduced in width toform seats forthe plates, said tongues being passed through corresponding slots in theplates against the inner faces of the adjacent flanges and bent over andupon the outer faces of said flanges.

2. A knock-down crate comprising rectangular marginally flanged sheetmetal plates of substantially the same size, each corner of each platebeing provided with a pair of slots extending along' and in closeproximity to the inner faces of the flanges of adjacent sides of theplate at an angle to each other, sheet metal corner posts of angularcross section, each having its opposite ends seated against the innerfaces of the flanges of the corresponding corners and provided with apair of bendable tongues passed through the adjacent slots andover-turned upon the outer faces of the adjacent flanges.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 7th day of April1920 CHARLES W. YOUNG.

Witnesses:

H. E. CHAsE, Rosa G. CARROLL.

